Wet electronic copying apparatus



April 12, 1966 YOSHIRQ o s 3,245,330

WET ELECTRONIC COPYING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1963 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,245,330 Patented Apr. 12, 1966 3,245,330WET ELECTRONIQ COPYING APPARATU S Yoshiro ()lrishima, Gsaira, Japan,assignor to Minolta Camera Kabushilri Iiaisha, Osaka, Japan, acorporation of Japan Filed Nov. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 325,898 Claimspriority, application Japan, Nov. 29, 1962, 37/5 3,004 3 (Jlaims. (Cl.951.7)

The present invention relates to a novel, useful, Wet electronicphotocopying apparatus capable of completely interlocking and copyingeven an extended length of original picture without any hindrance.

One object of the present invention is to provide a wet electronicphotocopying apparatus capable of copying an extended original picturewithout any large sized equipment. In order to accomplish such anobject, the original pictures and sheets of sensitized paper are adaptedto be transmitted synchronously on rollers rotated by a mo torized chaintransmission, and the electrical charging of sensitized papers,projection and all other steps from the sensitization to development insolution are also adapted to be efiected during the chain transmission.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wet photocopyingapparatus capable of continuously copying an original picture ofunlimited length or a number of short original pictures. In order toaccomplish such an object, predetermined motions are adapted forautomatic control by means of microswitches and the apparat-us of thisinvention is so arranged to be capable of using an extended length ofsensitized paper.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wet electronicphotocopying apparatus capable of copying smoothly by a single person.In order to accomplish such an object, the apparatus according to thepresent invention is so designed as to solve a problem of difference infeeding velocities of sensitize-d paper between a short stop at the rootand an advancement at the front end of the sensitized paper includingthe light-exposure and developing portions by gradually andconsecutively advancing sheets of paper in the shortest passage, inretreating a movable guiding plate forming a round-about route ofsensitized paper against a spring, while the end of original picturesheet synchronously operates cutter, and moreover, the outlet fororiginal picture or drawing to be copied is arranged to be below theinlet for the original picture and the operator.

In accordance with the present invention, a length of sensitized paperfrom a roll is continuously transmitted on rollers, and receives aprojected image of the original pictures being synchronouslytransmitted; after passing through an electrically charging portion, abright portion of such image electrically conducts charging, while adark portion of the image conducts loading, thereby potentially formingsocalled electronics photoimages, then the sensitized paper bearing thep-hotoimages is passed through developing solution to complete adeveloping step, after which it is transmitted on a belt until itreaches to a suitable position below the inlet for the original picture.Thus, required steps of operation are automatically regulated bymicroswitches on the apparatus. Namely, a lamp is lit by the action of amicroswitch at the same time as the original picture is inserted, and afirst roller for transmitting sheets of sensitized paper is startedsimultaneously; a cutter for cutting the sensitized paper is actuated atthe same time as the original picture passes through a predeterminedpoint. Thus the sensitized paper is cut into the same length as theoriginal picture, so that complete gearing may be performed, unlike theintermittently transmitting device wherein the sensitized paper isstopped once while images are received by the paper; it is, therefore,possible to copy even a long extended original picture with nointerruption.

Furthermore, the present invention is also contemplated to provide animproved developing means for Wet electronic photocopying apparatus. Insuch developing means, a developing liquid is stirred or circulated byejecting a Well-known developing solution containing pulverized powderfor assisting electronic development through a centrifugal pump with aliquid medium, and a liquid tank is shut off from outside with apartition to prevent evaporation of content; in addition, the surface ofa guide block in a developing dish constituting a guiding passage forsheets of sensitized paper is adapted for use simultaneously as anelectrode to prevent edging efliect of electronic photopict-ures.

In the following, the present invention is further described in detailin connection with an embodiment illustrated by Way of example in theaccompanying drawings, of which FIG. 1 is a schematic constructionalview of the apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan of a developing device according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional front view of line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view on line IVIV in FIG. 2.

It is to be noted that, though the present invention is thus describedin detail the present invention is not to be limited thereby, since itis of course possible to make various modifications without departingfrom the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appendedclaims. It is also to be noted that similar parts are represented bysimilar symbols throughout all the drawings and descriptions therefor.

Referring to the drawings, by 1 is meant a casing; 2 a motor; 3 pairs ofopposite rollers; 4 a guide plate; 5 and 6 microswitches; 7 a planeperspective plate; 8 a pushing stand; and 9 a transmission beltrespectively. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the motor 2 in the casing 1 isso arranged as to drive the one part of each pair of opposing rollers 3,25, a excepting driving-out roller A, by a suitable chain-transmittingmeans (not illustrated). At the back of an original picture stand 26, isarranged a guide plate 4 provided in turn with a narrow clearance 27,through which the original picture passes, and with the microswitch 5 atthe inlet for the picture entrance, interlocking respectively with aclutch B to drive a roller A for rolling out a long rolled sensitizedpaper 28 and with the cutter 18 for cutting said sensitized paper. Theoriginal picture itself drives the other microswitch 6, which iselectrically connected to an illuminating lamp C, comprising a lamp anda reflection shade (neither of them are illustrated), and which isarranged at an outlet of guide plate 4. As it proceeds to the right, theoriginal picture is held in a plane state in contact under pressure withthe plane perspective plate 7 by means of the transmission belt 9 whichis driven by a roller pair 0, and by means of the pushing stand 8elastically held by a suitable spring (not illustrated) against theplane perspective plate 7. The plate 7 has a guiding portion (notillustrated) at the inlet, inclined towards an illuminating portion Bthrough which the original proceeds by means of a pair of facing rollers12. As the rear portion of the original picture moves off themicroswitch 5, the cutter 18 is driven for cutting the sensitized paper.

Reflected rays of light pass between the perspective plate 12 and thespring-contact and push-contact plate 13 via the mirror 10 andprojecting lens 11, similarly as in the case of original pictures, andonto the sensitized paper on the transmission belt 14 which is advancedto the left by a roller j, so that corresponding images are formed onsuch sensitized paper 28 during the transmission. In this case, theimage forming velocity and sensitized paper transmission velocity are ofcourse synchronous and equal, because each of the rollers are ofchain-transmission, and upon departing from the transmission belt 9. Theoriginal picture actuates the microswitch 15 as the rear portion of theoriginal picture passes through the roller to extinguish theillumination lamp C. and thence passes through the curved guiding plate16 for changing direction, and is transmitted on the rollers e and f inorder to be collected at the outlet 17. It is to be noted that when theoriginal picure is short, it is possible for the guide plate 4 to bedivided in two parts which are supported by appropriate rollers.

The front end of the rolled sensitized paper 28 is driven by the rollerA an dextended to the cutter 18; an electromagnetic cylinder (notillustrated) being driven simultaneously with passage of the front endof the original picture, by the mioroswitch to start clutch B, so thatthe roller A is set for rotation. The sensitized paper is then passedthrough a clearance between the outer stationary guiding plate 19 andthe inner movable guiding plate 20, both ends of which are pivoted andwhich are held by spring members (not illustrated). The sensitized paperproceeds along the transmission belt 14 which is driven by the roller jand passes below the charging de vice 21 to be charged with electricity,to be imparted with light sensitivity and sensitized by receiving imagessynchronously proceeding with the original picture, while being broughtin contact with the plane perspective plate 12. The plate 12 has aninclined guiding plane portion (not illustrated) through which thesensitized paper proceeds and is pressed into contact therewith by thepressure-plate 13. In departing from the transmission belt 14, thesensitized paper is passed over the roller 1', and proceeds along acurved bottom portion 29 of developing device 22 that is filled with adeveloping solution for electronic photography. The solution is mixedwith minute particles of black powder in an insulating liquid, to assistthe development during the advancement and transmission on thetransmission belt. The sensitized paper is thence driven by the roller11 and and placed on the transmission belt 23 driven by the roller g tobe collected at the outlet 24. Adjacent the transmission belt 23, adrier means such as a heat radiation device or a fan D is provided toassist the drying effect.

As the trailing end of the original picture comes out of roller 3, thecutter 18 is thereby actuated by the microswitch 5, and the sensitizedpaper 28 is cut by the actuated cutter. That is, the cutter edge 30begins to cut the sensitized paper from one end of the width, andreaches to the other end after a short interval of time. Even duringthis operation the sensitized paper 28 is continuously advanced by thetransmission roller A. Consequently, the resulting irregularities can besolved, in that the sensitized paper is fed across a short path, afterthe paper having been placed in an illustrated, dotted position, byrotating the inner movable guiding plate 20 consecutively clockwiseagainst a spring (not illustrated) of the inner movable guiding plate20, whereby the sensitized paper moves over a curved passage along theouter stationary guiding plate 19 between the cutter 18 and roller 25.

The developing device 22 for the copier is illustrated in detail inFIGS. 2 to 4 and includes a centrifugal pump 33 driven by a motor 32mounted in a casing frame 31. The pump is provided with a jet tube 37having one or a plurality of branch tubes 36 opening to a suction hole34 and corner portions of liquid tank 35. A main tube 38 is connected toa guide block 41 secured in a developing dish outside a partition wall39. The dish 40 has a rib 42, leaking hole 43 and an overflow outlet 44serving to guide the sensitized paper 28 as shown in FIG. 1. The guideblock 41 is provided with a main hole 45 and a plurality of drain holes46; a curved surface 47 of said guide block opposite the rib 42 of saiddeveloping dish is made electroconductive and simultaneously adapted toserve as an electrode. In addition, a curved path 48 for the sensitizedpaper 28 to pass therethrough is formed. The overflow outlet 44 ofdeveloping dish 40 is provided opposite an auxiliary vessel 50 having awater outlet 49 at the bottom. The leaking hole 43 is formed in a smallpath, and the capacity of a pump, main hole 45, flowing down hole 46,overflow outlet 44- and a water discharging hole 49 are, of course, sodesigned that the liquid may flow in an appropriate quantity in thedeveloping dish 40 during the course of development.

Thus, in the main developing apparatus of the aforementionedconstruction, the sensitized paper having been transmitted from roller1', through a copying step, that is, the advancing of the originalpicture as well as sensitized paper 28, charging, exposure by startingor" a motor unillustrated, is advanced on the curved path 48;simultaneously with the starting of said motor, the developing liquid inthe liquid tank 35 is allowed to enter from the suction hole 34 and toan ejecting tube 37 by the centrifugal pump 33 which is driven by themotor 32, where-by the developing liquid is ejected from a branch pipe36 through the opening of the corner portion of liquid tank 35 and isstirred continuously. The liquid rising in the main tube 38 is poured inthe main hole 45 of guide block 41 and collected in the developingliquid dish 40 from down-draining hole 46, a majority of which overflowsfrom the over-flow outlet 44 into the auxiliary tank 50 and returns fromthe water discharging hole 49 to the lower tank portion because theleaking hole 43 is smaller and a predetermined quantity of flowingdeveloping liquid is remained constant so as to fill the curved path 48.In consequence, the sensitized paper 28 to be therein absorbed requiresparticles in the liquid, while advancing and passing through the curvedpath 48 formed by the curved surface 47 of guide block 41, i.e. thesurface of electrode and the guiding rib 42, to be adhered to squeezeout the remaining liquid at the roller [1, dried and transferred to thefollowing drying step. Upon stopping of motor 32, the developing liquidreturns in the liquid tank 35 by flowing out of the leakage hole 43 andwater discharge hole 49.

From the foregoing description, it has been ascertained that, accordingto the present developing device, developing particles liable toprecipitate at the corners of liquid tank 35 are ejected and stirredpartly by jetting power of centrifugal pump 33, in order to directuniformly conditloned liquid toward suction hole 34 and simultaneouslyfeed developing dish 40 with liquid continuously so as to let the liquidflow through numbers of holes 46 in the stationary guide block 41 of thedeveloping dish; the sensitized paper is always immersed in fresh liquidand posltioned opposite the curved surface 47 which is electroconductlveand has polarity, thereby advantageously keeping a uniform thicknessthroughout the whole picture by avoiding so-called edge effect liable tooccur in an electronic photograph, that developing particles areconcentrated only near the periphery of the picture and dispersed 1n theinner area of the picture, and moreover since the liquid tank 35 isisolated from outside by the partition wall 39 and developing dish 40 orthe auxiliary tank 50, the evaporation of developing liquid canadvantageously be avoided. I

What is claimed:

1. Wet electronic photocopying apparatus, com rising a guiding plateprovided with a clearance passage for original pictures, a clutch foractuating a cutter in response to switch means at the inlet of saidguiding plate, a nncroswitch for an illuminating lamp at the outlet ofsaid guiding plate, a plane perspective plate having inclined surfacesat the ends, a belt conveyor for original pictures stretched across saidplane perspective plate and a pushing bed in contact with saidperspective plate under action of a spring, said illuminating lamp beingplaced opposite said plane plate, said illuminating lamp being placedpartly opposite a charging device via a reflecting mirror and lens, saidcharging device having another pushing bed in contact with anotherperspective plate under action of another spring, another belt conveyorstretched between said another pushing bed and perspective plate,thereby constituting a light-exposure part of said apparatus; rolledsensitized paper having a driving portion and a cutter operativelyconnected with said switch means, a guiding path for sensitized paperbeing provided with one side secured with each other and supported by aspring next to said light exposure portion, a developing device and atransmitting belt opposite the heating or drying device being provided,the outlet for sensitized paper sheets being provided below the inletfor the original picture.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the rolled sensitizedpaper is long and adapted to be transferred by a clutch and drivingroller to a cutter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,002,434 10/1961Reuter 95-1.7 3,003,404 10/1961 Metcalfe et al. 951.7 3,124,484 3/1964Magnusson 118637 3,130,079 4/1964 Von Meister 118-637 3,155,546 11/1964Dirks 118-637 3,169,457 2/1965 Kaminstein 951.7 3,181,420 5/1965Rautbord et a1. 951.7

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

1. WET ELECTRONIC PHOTOCOPYING APPARATUS, COMPRISING A GUIDING PLATEPROVIDED WITH A CLEARANCE PASSAGE FOR ORIGINAL PICTURES, A CLUTCH FORACTUATING A CUTTER IN RESPONSE TO SWITCH MEANS AT THE INLET OF SAIDGUIDING PLATE, A MICROSWITCH FOR AN ILLUMINATING LAMP AT THE OUTLET OFSAID GUIDING PLATE, A PLANE PERSPECTIVE PLATE HAVING INCLINED SURFACESAT THE ENDS, A BELT CONVEYOR FOR ORIGINAL PICTURES STRETCHED ACROSS SAIDPLANE PERSPECTIVE PLATE AND A PUSHING BED IN CONTACT WITH SAIDPERSPECTIVE PLATE UNDER ACTION OF A SPRING, SAID ILLUMINATING LAMP BEINGPLACED OPPOSITE SAID PLANE PLATE, SAID ILLUMINATING LAMP BEING PLACEDPARTLY OPPOSITE A CHARGING DEVICE VIA A REFLECTING MIRROR AND LENS, SAIDCHARGING DEVICE HAVING ANOTHER PUSHING BED IN CONTACT WITH ANOTHERPERSPECTIVE PLATE UNDER ACTION OF ANOTHER SPRING, ANOTHER BELT CONVEYORSTRETCHED BETWEEN SAID ANOTHER PUSHING BED AND PERSPECTIVE PLATE,THEREBY CONSTITUTING A LIGHT-EXPOSURE PART OF SAID APPARATUS; ROLLEDSENSITIZED PAPER HAVING A DRIVING PORTION AND A CUTTER OPERATIVELYCONNECTED WITH SAID SWITCH MEANS, A GUIDING PATH FOR SENSITIZED PAPERBEING PROVIDED WITH ONE SIDE SECURED WITH EACH OTHER AND SUPPORTED BY ASPRING NEXT TO SAID LIGHT EXPOSURE PORTION, A DEVELOPING DEVICE AND ATRANSMITTING BELT OPPOSITE THE HEATING OR DRYING DEVICE BEING PROVIDED,THE OUTLET FOR SENSITIZED PAPER SHEETS BEING PROVIDED BELOW THE INLETFOR THE ORIGINAL PICTURE.